Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-04
NEXT LEGISLATURES.
SRr TWO nousEs COMING roaErRER
ON WEDNESDAY.
orssnizssion Of the Senate and Of the
Hoase-eovsrnor's Message-The ofices
to DO Given Out.

Wednesday, MS the town bells sound
70 O'Clock NJ, tho gavel Of Lieutenant.
Governor John +. Massey will bring the
Senate TO order, and like proceeding
from Clerk john Bell Bigger will COM
rna1d silence and attention in the House.
Each body will be opened with prayer.
After some formalities as to swearing in
the new members, &c, the Senate viii
proceed 10 the election OF president pro
fcn., clerk, sergeant alarms, doorkeep-
or, &c. The House viii lave TO elect
speaker. clerk. scrgeant-at-arms, and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for all ofw which
Offices will bc made by the Democrats on
tuesday night.
ooygRSon's MESSAGE.
Readers OF the Dispatch Wednesday
morning will he informed OF the nomi-
nations made for officers Of the Senate
and House ON Tuesday night, and that
will end the interest in that direction.
Next Will bo the annual message OF
Governor Lee. He will have much to
say this year, and as has been the case
with the Executives for twenty years the
public debt will occupy a prominent
place in bis communication, but
exactly What recommendations the
Governor will make is largely de-
pendent upon the decision OF tho United
Stetes Supyeme Court expected to-mor-
row in the Virginia hobcas-corpUs cases
One thing is eertain--snd The Gov
erpor may say so in his messagc-that
il, as is most earnestly hoped, the debt
should be funded in new IS IT will take
every cent OF taxation that the present
rate will produce TO pay the 3 per cent
per snnuu. called for by the Riddle
berger bill. But with the practice OF the
economy which 1t is in the power OF the
General Assembly TO inaugurate the in
teTest on the whole funded debt can be
paid, and new 3's ought to go to 50 or
beyond.
YOUTHFUL CRIMINALS.
Governor Lee has been making in
quiries of the superintendent OF the
pcnitentiary which leads to the belief
that he will make some recommendations
so that ward shall be established IN that
institution and initplaced away from the
horde OF older criminals all the youthful
prisoners, offenders for whose reclama-
ton there is some hope.
THE sPEAKERsHIP.
At present tho chief interest attaching
TO the assembling of the Legislature is in
the speakership. Mr.. Stuart, who was
the last Speaker, was defeated OF re-
election, and now the names most fire.
au. ntly mentioned as the Houses pre-
siding officer are those OF Mr.. Henry II.
Pollard and Mr.. Richard II. Cardwell
the former of King and Queen. the lat
ter of Hanover, both of whom were
often intrusted with the chair by Speaker
Stuart. Colonel l.. ID. Starke, of Nor
folk, is also spoken of in the same con-
nection and so is Mr.. William y.
Anderson, of Rockbridge.
Mr.. Cardwell is frequently called
Judge Cardwell, and the title belongs to
him as he vas elected Judge of Hanover
county, but the exigeDcies of the situa-
ton required that he should not resign
from the House, and so he patTiotically
relinquished the judgeship.
Mr.. Pollard was for many years Com
monwealth's attorney OF his county, and
as member of the House was always a
leader. For some time past he has been
chairman of the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Anderson, a son of the late Judge
Anderson and nephew of General Jo-
seph II. Anderson, has served in both
the Honse and Senate, and is a man OF
ability and popularity.
Colonel StarEe is q native of Rich
mond, "served his time " as composltor
on the Eia1uircr. then read Law, attained
success in his profession, and III Norfolk,
where his home long has been, IS an
honored and useful citizen. He was a
member Of the House several years ago.
The Speaker gets double the pay of q
member (say IS day, and the position
is one of great honor and considerable
influence. Among Speakers of the House
in years not far gone were Oscar Crntch-
field, James l.. Kemper, John i. Bald
win. z. $. Turner, Marshall Hanger,
Henry c. Allen, l. &. Fowler, and Charles
4. Stuart.
CAUCUsEs.
After the two houses are organized tho
Democratic caucus of the members of
the two branches of the General Assem-
bly, will meet to nominate Mr.. Barbour
as United States senator, and then to
nominate Auditor of Public Accounts,
Second Auditor, Treasurer. Secretary of
the Commonwealth. Register OF the Land
Office. Superintendent of the Peniten-
iary, Superintendent of Public Print
ng, Railroad Commissioner. &c.
DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICES.
As general thing in Virginia whore
N officer has faithfully discharged his
uty he may with good hope look for re-
election. Still there are numerous caudi-
dates in the field this year. The party
has always sought to do justice in
awarding the posts OF honor, but
members from congressional DIS
trict are inclined to stick together.
This wear there is much talk about
the Second Norfolk and Fourth Pc
tersburg) congressional districts joining
together and urging an explicit reeogni-
ton Of that section in the nominations
for some good Office. They have no
place now, and they have pade some
complaints but OF all the good and
loval Democrats in Virginia there are
none better than come from this section,
and the public may be assured that any
claims they may present will be urged
with that good feeling and patriotism
which have ever characterized them.
The Commonwealth is best served by
the selection of the best men obtainable
for the offices to be filed. While III our
form OF government it is the design TO
bring tho people and the governing
power as near together as practicable,
there is but little doubt that when our
members get together in caucus and talk
over the situation they will be able 70 SO
net as to give. as near as human saSacity
eau accomplish it, satisfaction to the
whole party. There is beautiful harmony
preyaiiing in our ranks now, and where
active contests are being conducted for
offices good feeling between the aspi-
rants prevails.
RICHMOND MEMBERS CONFERENCE.
A conference Of the Richmond sena-
TORS and delegates was held last night
for comparison of views on several sub
iecss of moment 70 the city, chief among
which are who shall be supported for